578 earthquakes in 24 hours recorded in Mt. Kanlaon —PHIVOLCS

State volcanologists continue to closely monitor Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island as it registered 578 volcanic earthquakes in the last 24 hours.

“After many, many weeks na tumigil ang earthquake, in the past 24 hours ay 578 volcanic earthquakes ang naitala natin na karamihan maliliit at sa tingin namin nandoon pa rin [sa] bandang malalim,” Renato Solidum, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) director, said in a press conference after the Emergency Response Preparedness (ERP) meeting on Wednesday.

“Therefore, we will closely monitor the activity of [the] volcano,” Solidum said.

In its bulletin, PHIVOLCS said it also recorded 800-meter white steam-laden plumes from the summit of the volcano.

Meanwhile, Solidum said that rains from Tropical Depression Urduja may not cause steam-driven or phreatic explosions from the volcano.

He explained that the volcano's phreatic explosion over the weekend happened after rainwater interacted hot rocks and gas beneath Mt. Kanlaon.

“Walang epekto ang pag ulan sa bulkan mismo pero ang huling activity ng Kanlaon ay nangyari nung Sabado nung nagkaroon ng steam-ridden explosion o phreatic eruption kung saan ang tubig ulan ay magkaroon ng interaction sa mainit na bato o kaya ay gas galing sa ilalim,” he said.

Solidum said the volcano acted up again starting November.

“Maliban sa lindol, may pressure na nakikita at ang gas na mas marami kaysa dati, from below 100 minsan ay 800 tons per day,” he said.

“All of these three observations, madaming volcanic earthquakes, patuloy na may pressure, ground deformation, at pagtaas ng sulfur dioxide gas sa Kanlaon would tell us na talagang abnormal,” he added.

Alert Level 2 is currently raised over the volcano, which means it is "undergoing moderate level of unrest."

"There is probable intrusion of magma at depth which may or may not lead to a magmatic eruption," PHIVOLCS said.

PHIVOLCS has advised residents living near the volcano to avoid entering the four-kilometer radius permanent dangerous zone.

It also said that civil aviation authorities should advise pilots against flying near the summit of the volcano. —ALG, GMA News